Lippia plant named ‘ECOLOPIA3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lippia plant named ‘ECOLOPIA3’ is disclosed, characterized by uniquely long internodes, about 2.9 cm, resulting in tall plants. Plants of the new variety grow vigorously to about 170 cm in 3 months and 5 cm tall. The new variety has excellent tolerance for heat, humidity and disease. Foliage is larger than average, plants are sterile. The new variety is a Lippia, useful for a variety of horticultural purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lippia nodiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘ECOLOPIA3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lippia cultivar is a product of chance discovery by theinventor, Masataka Ohde, in Oyama, Japan. The new variety was discoveredas a naturally occurring single plant mutation in a greenhouse in Oyama,Japan.

The parent is an unnamed, unpatented variety of Lippia nodiflora. Thenew variety was discovered May of 2018 by the inventor in a group ofplants of the parent variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ECOLOPIA3’ was first performedat a commercial greenhouse in Oyama, Japan by terminal vegetativecuttings during June 2018. More than 3 generations have been reproducedby vegetative cuttings. Subsequently, propagation has also shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ECOLOPIA3’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ECOLOPIA3’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ECOLOPIA3’ as a new and distinct Lippiacultivar:

-   -   1. Long internode of about 2.9 cm.    -   2. Tolerance to disease.    -   3. Tolerance to high humidity.    -   4. Above average height of around 5 cm.    -   5. Above average foliage size    -   6. Variety is sterile.    -   7. Rapid growth.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ECOLOPIA3’ are similar to the parent varietyin most horticultural characteristics. The new variety however differsin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Taller plant height, measured at foliar plane; the parent        grows to 1.8 cm, the new variety to 5 cm.    -   2. Internodes of the new variety average 2.9 cm, internodes of        the parent average 1.6 cm.    -   3. The new variety is faster growing than the parent variety.    -   4. Leaf length of the new variety is about 2 cm, leaf length of        the parent is about 1.1 cm.    -   5. Peduncles of the new variety are about 5 cm, peduncles of the        parent are about 2.1 cm.    -   6. Leaf width of the new variety is about 1.2 cm, leaf width of        the parent is about 0.8 cm.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ECOLOPIA3’ are similar to the commercialvariety Lippia ‘Campagna Verde’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,120 in mosthorticultural characteristics. The new variety however differs in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Taller plant height, measured at foliar plane. ‘Campagna        Verde’ grows to 3 cm, the new variety to 5 cm.    -   2. Stronger tolerance to disease under high heat and high        humidity conditions.    -   3. Corolla color of ‘Campagna Verde’ is Violet-Blue 91D, corolla        color of ‘ECOLOPIA3’ is White 155D.

‘ECOLOPIA3’ can be compared to the commercial variety Lippia nodiflora‘ECOLOPIA1’. Plants of ‘ECOLOPIA1’ are similar to plants of ‘ECOLOPIA3’in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘ECOLOPIA3’ differs fromLippia nodiflora in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Taller plant height, measured at foliar plane; ‘ECOLOPIA1’        grows to 1.9 cm, the new variety to 5 cm.    -   2. Internodes of the new variety average 2.9 cm, internodes of        ‘ECOLOPIA1’ average 1.7 cm.    -   3. Leaf length of the new variety is about 2 cm, leaf length of        ‘ECOLOPIA1’ is about 1 cm.    -   4. Leaf width of the new variety is about 1.2 cm, leaf width of        ‘ECOLOPIA1’ is about 0.7 cm.    -   5. Peduncles of the new variety are about 5 cm, peduncles of        ‘ECOLOPIA1’ are about 2.5 cm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a closeup view of typical flowers and foliage of a plant of ‘ECOLOPIA3’ grownoutdoors in Oyama, Japan.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a typical inflorescence, with acentimeter ruler for scale.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of foliage, with a centimeter rulerfor scale.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mass planting view of the plant grown outdoors.

FIG. 5 is a different illustration of ‘ECOLOPIA3’ plants, grown in afield at 3 months old, already forming a mat.

FIG. 6 illustrates a piece of the 3 month old plant, with nodes rooting.

FIG. 7 illustrates plants of ‘ECOLOPIA3’ at 3 different stages.

Plants on the top of the figure have just been planted, plants in thecenter of 1 month old, plants on the bottom of the figure are 3 monthsold. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘ECOLOPIA3’ plants grown both outdoors and ina temperature controlled greenhouse in Oyama, Japan. Temperatures rangedfrom −7° C. to 25° C. at night to 3° C. to 50° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants.Plants were grown both outside research field with plowed soilsupplemented with fertilizer containing 8% N, 8% P, and 8% K, and intemperature-controlled and uncontrolled greenhouses in a mixture ofKanuma soil, peat and vermiculite supplemented with the same fertilizer.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Lippia nodiflora ‘ECOLOPIA3’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 3 to 7 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Thin root stretching to downward reaching as deep    as 3 feet or deeper with sandy soil.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 87 days from rooted cutting.-   Time of year: Late Summer to early Fall.-   Growth habit: Creeping, creating a dense mat.-   Planting description: Outdoor field.-   Height: 5 cm.-   Plant spread: 170 cm diameter, 87 days after planning a rooted    cutting, June 2020.-   Growth rate: Very fast. 170 cm diameter plant in 3 months from a    rooted cutting, during the warm season.-   Branching characteristics: Dense, mat forming.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range 25 to 75 cm during    the warm season at 3 months of age from rooted plugs.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 5 mm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: The plant continuously forms    branches, approximately 2 to 4 per linear cm.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 177B as stem color.        -   Texture.—Slightly scaly.        -   Strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.-   Internode length: 2.9 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Average length.—2.0 cm.        -   Average width.—1.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broad acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Aspect.—Nearly flat.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper(front) Near RHS Green 137C. Young            foliage under(back) side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 138D. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 138D.        -   Petiole.—Leaves sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May to September.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 1-2 months, depend on    temperature and light conditions.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal head, cluster of    sessile flowers.-   Rate of flower opening: 8 to 10 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Flower Longevity on plant: about 15 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 79D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Depth.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Average quantity of individual flowers per            inflorescence.—40.-   Corolla:-   Individual flower.    -   -   Depth.—0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 1 fully formed petal. 1 lobed and            undeveloped petal of less than 1 mm by 1 mm. Length: 0.5 cm.            Width: 0.3 cm. Shape: Tube, flaring open at very end. Apex:            Blunt round. Base: Fused. Margin: Ruffled at apex. Texture:            Glabrous all surfaces. Color: When opening: Upper surface:            Near RHS Purple 76D. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple 76D.            Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS White NN155D. Lower            surface: RHS White NN155D.        -   Throat.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 11D. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Tube.—Interior Tube color: Near RHS Yellow 11A. Exterior            Tube color: Near RHS Yellow 11D. Texture: Glabrous.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Fused into a tube.        -   Length.—0.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near RHS Green 137D. Lower surface:            Near RHS Green 137D.-   Fragrance: None.-   Pedicels: Not present.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139C.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—4.        -   Filament length.—0.05 cm. Anthers: Shape: Linear. Length:            0.05 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 13A. Pollen: Scant. Colored            Yellow 13B.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1. Minute, not measurable.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Plants are sterile.-   Disease/pest resistance: Excellent resistance to common diseases of    Lippia nodiflora. New variety has better resistance to disease under    humid and hot conditions than parents. The most common pathogens    found in Lippia are fungus, including Puccinia and Colletrotrichum.    No particular pest resistance observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plant of the new hybrid have shown excellent    resistance to high and low temperature extremes, having been grown    successfully under temperature conditions ranging from a gentle    frost outdoors, just below 0 degrees Celsius, to 50 degrees Celsius    in an uncontrolled greenhouse.-   Physical durability: New variety has excellent tolerance to be foot    traffic.-   Soil pH: New variety has excellent tolerance to a range of soil pH    from 4.0-12.0.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lippia plant named‘ECOLOPIA3’ as herein illustrated and described.